In November 2024, the ISICA, represented by Ashraf Wali and Christophe Merer, participated in the Continental Conference on Transforming STEM in Africa, co-organized by UNESCO and the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The conference aimed to address challenges in STEM education, foster strategic partnerships, and provide actionable insights to build a transformative STEM ecosystem across Africa. This initiative is crucial to supporting economic development, enhancing global competitiveness, promoting problem-solving skills, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as quality education and gender equality.
Key Statistics Highlighting the Need for Action:
- Africa has the youngest population globally, with over 400 million youth aged 15 to 35. By 2030, young Africans will make up 42% of the world’s youth.
- Over 50% of children in sub-Saharan Africa cannot read age-appropriate texts.
- Less than 25% of higher education students in sub-Saharan Africa pursue STEM fields, with women accounting for less than 30% of this group.
- Africa will require an additional 23 million STEM graduates by 2030 to fill critical roles in engineering, healthcare, and IT.
The ISICA, along with local ISIC issuers and its global and local partners, is uniquely positioned to support this strategy. By leveraging innovative products and solutions, ISICA aims to contribute to building practical and impactful solutions for the continent’s STEM education needs.
Attending this event was a pivotal step for ISICA to enhance visibility, establish connections with public and private stakeholders at both continental and local levels, and position itself as a key player in Africa’s education ecosystem.
While in Addis Ababa, ISICA engaged in numerous discussions and established valuable contacts, many of which are already progressing into actionable follow-ups. Stay tuned for regular updates as ISICA continues to support Africa’s transformative STEM journey!
